Perched on the highest point of Maryland’s Gibson Island, a 1940s ranch-style home offers dazzling views of the Magothy River. Tapped to renovate this vacation retreat, architect Laurie JB Stubb made the water vistas a focal point in her eco-friendly design. Floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors in the upper-level sitting room “allow natural light to fill the space and create an indoor-outdoor experience,” she says. Stubb lightened the original red-oak floors with a semi-transparent white stain and installed cable railing “that you can almost see through” on the adjacent ipe deck. As the architect explains, “I wanted the light colors of the paint and floors to evoke a sense of peace and serenity.”
Architecture: Laurie JB Stubb, AIA, place architecture:design, Brooklandville, Maryland. Contractor: Owings Brothers Contracting, Eldersburg, Maryland.
Tucked into the quaint Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis, a traditional abode on Back Creek overlooks a scenic sailboat marina. To take full advantage of this inviting view, architect Rick Ruhf of RPH Architecture—hired to enlarge the home and open it up to the water—designed a modern, three-story addition on the back with a curved wall that creates a panoramic tableau. From each level, a triangular deck juts out “like the bow of a ship thrusting toward the water,” says Ruhf. Pictured here, the lower level of the ipe structure offers a perch from which to watch the sailboats glide by, bordered by cable railings that keep the focus on the view.
Architecture: Rick Ruhf, AIA, LEED AP, RPH Architecture, Annapolis, Maryland. General Contractor: Marcellous Butler, Annapolis, Maryland.
TAKE A SEAT
Gray woven rope and a light-hued mahogany frame are a seaworthy combination in the Bilson Armchairs from One Kings Lane. Seat cushions are upholstered in colorfast, durable, stain- and mildew-resistant olefin. $999. onekingslane.com
PIPE DREAM
A vintage pipe fitting, lengths of sturdy rope and weathered-white wood shelves distinguish the 18-inch-wide Industrial Pipe & Rope Shelf from Restoration Hardware’s Baby & Child division. Also available in 36- and 48-inch-wide versions. $175. rhbabyandchild.com
RUSTIC STYLE
The Napa Wine Barrel Wood & Metal Chandelier features an iron barrel hoop hanging from six thick burlap rope cords. Iron arms and candle cups are hand-finished in black while the hoop has a galvanized-metal finish. $539. potterybarn.com
TRAY TIME
Add a little coastal flavor to your next al fresco soiree with Palecek’s Monarch Round Tray, from the Jeffrey Alan Marks Collection. Made of metal wrapped in natural seagrass rope with cutout handles, it measures 22 inches in diameter. $258. palecek.com
SEAWORTHY
The Braddock Small Bench, designed by Grace Feyock for Uttermost, boasts a rough-hewn iron frame wrapped in natural-fiber rope. The seat cushion conveys sea-going flair with sturdy, sailor-striped cotton fabric in navy and white. $381. uttermost.com
FIBER RICH
Strands of abaca are hand-woven to create the Rhapsodic collection of natural-fiber rugs from Patterson Flynn Martin. Patterns range from large-scale geometrics and graphics to undulating curves such as Oscillation, pictured above in the Jewel colorway. Priced to the trade. pattersonflynnmartin.com
Brunschwig & Fils’s indoor/outdoor collection, En Vacances, conjures sojourns by the sea, with a range of 12 printed and woven fabrics and six coordinated trimmings. To come up with these eye-catching designs, the textile company delved into its archives, reinventing retro florals and paisleys, geometric wovens, crisp stripes and bold ikats. Fabrics and trimmings are durable, UV-friendly and stain-resistant. brunschwig.com
The intense hues, varying moods and swirling, frothy waves of the ocean are the lure of the Oceana Collection by UK-based Murals Wallpaper. Comprised of high-definition images taken using aerial photography, these custom wallpaper murals are made to order. Like the sea itself, the 23 motifs in the Oceana Collection come in an array of colors, from turquoise to azure to sunset orange, and depict everything from shore scenes and exotic fish to deep-sea divers and foaming swells. The Caspian Photographic Ocean Wall Mural is pictured above. muralswallpaper.com
In front of a Craftsman-style house in a leafy McLean neighborhood, a tiny tricycle, a soccer net and intricate chalk drawings on the flagstone walkway are telltale signs that little ones live here. This fact was not lost on designer Kristin Peake, who initially upgraded and furnished this new, five-bedroom home when her clients, then expecting their first son, purchased it from Madison Homes in 2012. Peake revamped some rooms a couple of years later when they welcomed a daughter, and again this year when they had another son.
“This house has been able to evolve every time they’ve had a child,” says the designer. The owners first approached Peake after visiting a friend’s residence that she designed. They loved the scale and open layout of their new home, as well as the flexible office and play spaces located on split levels off a large stairway. But they needed help transforming what was a blank slate into a comfortable retreat that would reflect their lifestyle and aesthetic.
Peake presented them with a plan that would add architectural detail—from larger-scale moldings to built-ins, shiplap, and indoor transoms—throughout the main level as well as upstairs. “The millwork is a beautiful thread that is woven through the whole house,” says Peake. “There’s not a ton of architecture, but enough to really make an impact.”
While they selected furnishings and finishes that are durable enough to withstand the wear and tear that come from one dog and three residents under the age of five, Peake infused the home with sophisticated style so that it shines just as well for a grown-up dinner party as it does for a toddler play date.
“We wanted it to look nice but didn’t want to live in fear, following the kids around with rug cleaner,” jokes the wife.
Peake presented the couple with an easy-going scheme that emphasized linens in neutral palettes, textural rugs and accent pillows delivering dashes of color. As the designer recalls, “She wanted a casual, coastal flavor. He wanted it to be a little more Ralph Lauren. We found a happy compromise.”
A reading room with an inviting sofa and cozy armchairs greet guests to the left of the entrance, in lieu of a formal living room that the couple said they would seldom use. “It’s a great reading space, a great spot to put your feet up,” says the wife. “And as the kids get older, I think we’ll use it even more.”
The facing dining room also serves up some refreshing changes. Chairs are covered in washable slipcovers and a Hickory Chair bench can seat a gang of youngsters at large gatherings. Rather than installing a chandelier, the owners opted for recessed lighting so furniture can be arranged with flexibility. A distressed Lorts table, a Tritter Feefer sideboard that Peake had painted milk-white and an antique mirror strike a tone that, she says, “feels collected, not contrived.”
The entryway leads past the stair hall and into the open family room/kitchen, where the designer’s millwork additions add both aesthetic and functional appeal. Shiplap siding flanks a custom built-in and accents the fireplace in the family room. And a custom banquette paired with a small table creates a corner perch for snack time or a family game. More built-in shelving helps to define the adjacent dining area near the open kitchen and a convenient breakfast bar.
The family room opens to a screened porch, where the residents enjoy meals by an outdoor fireplace. And behind the home, manicured grounds, an upper deck and a ground-level terrace complete with outdoor kitchen and fire pit—all created by McHale Landscape Design—offer al fresco fun for all ages.
Indoor play spaces abound on the lower level, which features an art room, a built-in “village” Peake designed for make-believe games, a home theater, and a gym. She recently completed a new guest room on this floor, since the original upstairs guest quarters made way for the new baby’s nursery.
Custom touches embellish all four upper-level bedrooms. Each kid’s room boasts a window seat and a personalized decorative-paint treatment—including a magnetic wall depicting a world map in the oldest son’s room, so he can track his father’s frequent business trips.
As an antidote to the parents’ busy schedules, Peake created an oasis of calm in the master suite, which features a sitting room and kitchenette. “He’s always traveling and always connected,” she remarks. “So they wanted their bedroom to be a haven where they can disconnect from the world.”
The couple is thrilled with how their residence has evolved. As the wife reflects, “Kristin took a great frame from the builder and turned it into a place that feels like us. It’s very versatile and can go lots of ways. Now, it really feels like home.”
Interior Design: Kristin Peake, Kristin Peake Interiors, Rockville, Maryland. Landscape Design: McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT Renovation Millwork Fabrication: Randy Flemming with Nantucket Homes. Rugs: thefloorgallery.com.
Reading Room Sofa, Sofa Fabric & Main Pillow Fabric: drexel-furniture.com. Side Chairs & Fabric: lillianaugust.com. Pillow Trim: kravet.com. Coffee Table & Round Table: noirfurniturela.com. Floor Lamp: visualcomfort.com.
DINING ROOM Table: lorts.com. Chairs: caracole.com. Custom Cuff on Chairs: Antonio Martinez Upholstery; 301-770-3939. Sideboard: tritterfeefer.com. Mirror: Antique. Lamps: visualcomfort.com. Window Shades: gretcheneverett.com. Custom Bench & Fabric: hickorychair.com. emilune & Mirror: lillianaugust.com. Pouf: vanguard.com. HALL Demilune & Mirror: lillianaugust.com. Pouf: vanguard.com.
FAMILY ROOM Sofa & Fabric: hickorychair.com. Coffee Table & Round Table: classichome.com. Storage Stools: tlsbydesign.com. Stool Fabric: kravet.com. Armchair & Ottoman: lillianaugust.com. Armchair & Ottoman fabric: fabricut.com. Window Treatments: gretcheneverett.com. Straight Lamp & Curved Lamp: curreycodealers.com. Banquette: stanfordfurniture.com. Banquette Fabric: sunbrella.com. Pendant: visualcomfort.com.
KITCHEN/BREAKFAST AREA Table: curationslimited.com. Bench: hickorychair.com. Bench Fabric: janusetcie.com. Chairs: drexel-furniture.com. Window Shades: gretcheneverett.com. Stools: hickorychair.com. Stool Fabric: janusetcie.com. Custom Cabinet Finish: swatchroom.com. Countertops: caesarstoneus.com. Backsplash: walkerzanger.com.
SCREENED PORCH All Furniture & Fabrics: janusetcie.com.
MASTER BEDROOM Bed, Armchair & Armchair Fabric: hickorychair.com. Lamps: barbaracosgrovelamps.com. Sectional & Fabric: drexel-furniture.com. Floor Lamp: visualcomfort.com. Ottoman: bellacor.com. Master Bath Vanity & Mirror: rh.com. Sconces: reginaandrew.com.
Nothing is understated about the five-bedroom 12,000-square-foot French chateau-style residence that Asta Homes carefully designed with luxury and large-scale entertaining in mind.
“My clients—Bala Sundar, a prominent businessman, his wife Lakshmi Bala and their two sons—are all about family, friends, and colleagues,” says interior designer Paula Grace Halewski, who became involved in the project when construction began in 2014. “Overall, they wanted comfortable, livable grandeur to enjoy with guests, but they also wanted diverse entertainment spaces, with different moods.”
The designer worked with her clients to select furnishings and finishes that would reflect their aesthetic in every room of the house. The expansive, marble-tiled entry sets an elegant tone, starting with a pair of arched wood-and-glass doors featuring wrought-iron scrollwork. A circular custom carpet of Halewski’s design sits beneath a round foyer table with brass feet; the table’s rich, dark finish repeats in espresso-stained wood floors throughout the home. Large, arched openings on either side of the foyer lead into the formal living and dining rooms.
A pièce de résistance is the custom, double-pedestal dining table in high-gloss walnut with gold-leaf detailing. Made in Portugal and part of Halewski’s furniture collection, it comfortably seats 10 to 12 guests. “The dining room is all about shimmer and texture,” says the designer, who finished the space with a subtle metallic wall covering embellished with glistening sand crystals and a pearl-
escent sky-blue paint treatment on the ceiling. A pair of gold-leaf and crystal-beaded chandeliers, along with matching wall sconces, completes the picture.
“I use texture, pattern, and lighting to make neutral rooms come alive,” Halewski explains.
Sky-blue ceilings and floor-to-ceiling, champagne-hued silk curtains connect the living and dining rooms. The two formal spaces also share the same sophisticated, neutral palette of grays, creams, beiges, and taupes. The living room is furnished with a tufted-velvet sofa, clean-lined armchairs and side chairs upholstered in cut velvet.
“I wanted this intimate space, where people gather before a formal dinner, to have two seating arrangements,” Halewski explains. “A roundtable and a quartet of striped chairs also serve as spillover dining room seating when needed.”
By contrast, the family room is soaring and vast, with its double-height ceiling boasting a high-contrast trellis design by Halewski that echoes the diamond-patterned carpet beneath it. “The family room’s palette is deeper, with navy, red and yellow accents,” she says. “The colors are of the twilight and sunset they see in their backyard.” Espresso-hued custom cabinetry flanks the limestone fireplace; custom sofas and armchairs provide ample seating for large, casual gatherings.
Even the kitchen is a picture of elegance. A glass-topped dining table with a nickel-and-walnut base makes an unexpected statement. “It’s a modern, graphic piece that contrasts beautifully with the more traditional cabinetry,” says Halewski. The transitional-style chairs that surround it are upholstered in practical gray leather.
The designer went all out with kitchen lighting, installing John Richardson chandeliers embellished with silk shades over the dining area and island. “Lighting is a big feature for the homeowners,” she remarks. “The chandeliers bring a refined, sculptural element to space and aren’t what you’d typically expect in a kitchen.”
On the lower level, Halewski’s custom lighting design—comprised of illuminated ceiling cutouts that mirror the furniture layout below—also creates a sense of drama. This open space is set up as a stylish hotel lounge, complete with a built-in bar, a temperature-controlled wine tasting room and a pool table and gaming area.
“I designed the basement as a big gathering space with multiple conversation areas,” she says. “The walls are textured grass cloth, with vertical nail-head detail, drawing the eye up and adding interest to the room.”
Once the party is over and everyone has dispersed, the couple can relax and unwind in their serene master-bedroom retreat. With its spa-blue palette and luxurious materials, it’s all about calm and Zen. Still, even in this quiet space, Halewski adds intrigue with silver-finish sculptural lamp bases; mahogany-and-rosewood veneer bedside chests; and round cut-velvet ottoman that floats at the end of a bed paneled in buttery leather.
“This project was truly a team effort,” Halewski reflects on the collaborative process she and the homeowners enjoyed. “We went to High Point Market together. We went to New York together. My clients were really interested in the design process—and it shows.”
Interior Design: Paula Grace Halewski, Paula Grace Designs, Inc., Ashburn, Virginia. Builder: Asta Homes, Great Falls, Virginia.
RESOURCES
FOYER Doors: clarkhalldoors.com. Sideboard & Mirror: hickorychair.com. Sconces: fineartlamps.com. Center Table: centuryfurniture.com. Round Rug: paulagracedesigns.com. Lounge Chairs: johnrichard.com. Accessories: studioa-home.com.
DINING ROOM Table: paulagracedesigns.com. Dining Chairs: kristindrohancollection.com. Chair Back Fabric: kravet.com. Chandeliers: fineartlamps.com. Wallcovering: yorkwall.com. Area Rug: stantoncarpet.com. Candle Holders: studioa-home.com.
LIVING ROOM Sofa: kravet.com. Lamp Tables: paulagracedesigns.com. Table Lamps: johnrichard.com. Polished-Stainless-Steel-and-Stone Tables: swaim-inc.com. Lounge Chairs & Side Chairs: kravet.com. Side Chair Fabric: fabricut.com. Center Table & Horn Side Table: centuryfurniture.com. Center Table Chairs: hickorychair.com. Chandelier & Sconces: curreycodealers.com. Area Rug: millikencarpet.com. Accessories: studioa-home.com. Wall Art: wendoverart.com. Drape Silk: libassilk.com. Drape Hardware: unitedsupplyco.com. Pillow Fabrics: leejofa.com; vervain.com; fabricut.com. Custom Wood & Glass Door: atrium-interiors.com.
KITCHEN / BREAKFAST ROOM Custom Cabinets: cabinetsinlancaster.com. Stove/Oven: subzero-wolf.com. Pedestal Table, Dining Chairs & Chandeliers: johnrichard.com. Custom Backsplash Tile: conestogatile.com. Counter Stools: frontgate.com. Area Rug: stantoncarpet.com. Candle Holders: studioa-home.com. Organic Gold Bowl: phillipscollection.com.
FAMILY ROOM Sofas & Swivel Chair Ottomans: swaim-inc.com. Ottoman / Coffee Tables & Swivel Chairs (next to fireplace): hickorychair.com. Lounge Chairs: kristindrohancollection.com. Clover Side Table: studioa-home.com. Glass Side Tables: swaim-inc.com. Table and Floor Lamps: visualcomfort.com. Chandelier & Sconces: fineartlamps.com. Mirror: centuryfurniture.com. Accessories: studioa-home.com; phillipscollection.com; arteriorshome.com. Pillow Fabrics: leejofa.com; kravet.com.
MASTER BATH Air Tub, Vanity, Faucet: thesomervillebathandkitchenstore.com. Wall Art: wendoverart.com.
MASTER BEDROOM Bed & Glass-and-Steel Side Table: swaim-inc.com. Lamp Tables: centuryfurniture.com. Table Lamps: visualcomfort.com. Lounge Chairs: hickorychair.com. Ottoman, Pillow & Bolster Fabric: kravet.com. Drape Silk: libassilk.com. Drape Hardware: unitedsupplyco.com. Bedding: valerianne.com.
WINE ROOM Table and Chairs: paulagracedesigns.com. Pendant Light: corbettlighting.com. Bar Stools: worlds-away.com.
LOWER LEVEL Wall Covering: phillipjeffries.com. Sofas & Lounge Chairs: swaim-inc.com. Round Bench: paulagracedesigns.com. Cocktail Tables: centuryfurniture.com. Metal Side Tables & Clover Puzzle Table: studioa-home.com. Glass-and-Metal Table & Console: worlds-away.com. Console Lamps: visualcomfort.com. Wall Mirror: cyandesign.biz. Accessories: studioa-home.com; phillipscollection.com. Fountain and Fountain Table: phillipscollection.com. Pendant: corbettlighting.com. Pillow Fabric: kravet; robertallendesign.com; fabricut.com.
When a couple moved to Washington, DC, from San Francisco four years ago, they wanted a retreat where they could escape the demands of city life with their teenaged son and daughter. Out West, they’d had a home on Lake Tahoe and loved its refined yet rustic setting. So when friends introduced them to Maryland’s Gibson Island, where they found a five-bedroom home for sale, they discovered a new place where they could connect with the water—and bring a touch of West Coast style to the East.
“This house is on [Otter] Pond, which is such a nice place, and we thought it had a good soul,” says the wife of the 1920s-era Shingle-style residence she and her husband purchased.
“We loved the bones of the house and didn’t change the footprint at all,” she adds. “But West Coast style is different in that it is more modern and we wanted to bring that forward. We wanted to refresh the house and update it to be family-friendly.”
The owners hired Gibson Island-based interior designer Erin Paige Pitts to help them accomplish this. Pitts soon realized that the 4,000-square-foot home, which had been under the stewardship of its previous owner for several decades, needed a facelift to meet her clients’ needs. “They are hip and wanted something they described as ‘modern camp,’” says the designer. The couple explained that they wanted to bring a bit of the Tahoe aesthetic to the house—its situation on an expansive fresh-water pond lent itself to a lake house vibe. But, says Pitts, they cautioned against a look that was either too “cabiny” or too “beachy.”
Looking through images with the owners, she quickly grasped the concept, which was inspired by the work of the Nashville-based design firm McAlpine. It’s a style that is both modern and moody, featuring saturated hues and natural elements such as woven rugs and leather accents applied with a contemporary eye.
The owners wanted dark floors and a rich color palette of blue, green and orange for the communal areas, and cool, clean bedrooms. “It couldn’t be stuffy,” explains the wife. “And while we wanted everything to be beautiful, it also had to endure being sat on in wet bathing suits.”
The redesign did not require alterations to the floor plan, but there was still much that needed to be changed, as most of the house was finished in uninspired drywall. Pitts redid the floors in durable, deep-toned hickory and detailed the living-room walls with paneling painted a deep gray. In keeping with the owners’ color preferences, the room features deep-blue sofas and leather stools in what the designer dubs “Hermès orange.” The stools evoke that “modern camp” aesthetic—as does the natural sisal rug. The room accommodates two seating areas, perfect for flexible entertaining, each presided over by a massive, four-foot-tall hanging lantern.
The use of deep tonal color continues in the kitchen, where Pitts restored the original 1920s tile floor and complemented it with cabinetry painted a high-gloss blue-gray. Throughout the home, she painted window frames and mullions dark gray, which feels more modern than the traditional white. This was particularly important in the large dining room, with its wall of Palladian windows.
The homeowners requested seating for 12 in the dining room. Pitts selected a 125-inch-long table made of reclaimed wood and surrounded it with benches and leather and woven chairs to underscore the collected, camp style. “The dining-room end chairs are something you could imagine seeing on safari, something Ernest Hemingway might have sat in,” says Pitts.
“Everything needed layers of interest without being stodgy,” she continues, noting the selection of a pair of modern Visual Comfort light fixtures over the dining room table. Their articulated arms can be moved to ensure appropriate lighting for the entire, large entertainment space.
Although the house fulfills its mandate of being rich and atmospheric, Pitts explains that every room couldn’t be moody or the interiors would be too dark—especially in winter, as her clients use the retreat year-round. Thus, the family room overlooking the pond features a light, neutral sectional and bright turquoise pillows. According to the wife, this is their favorite room in which to gather as a family, play games, relax and, of course, enjoy the extraordinary view that first drew them to this home.
Interior Design: Erin Paige Pitts, Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, Gibson Island, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT Floors: Hickory through shannonwaterman.com
SUNROOM Sectional & Fabric: nafurniture.com. Coffee Table: palecek.com. Rattan Chair: roostco.com. Stool: bungalow5.com. Rug: fibreworks.com. Throw Pillows: Custom. Table: hookerfurniture.com. Pendant over Table: arteriorshome.com. Banquette: vanguardfurniture.com.
GREAT ROOM Blue Sofas & Fabric, Round Coffee Table: vanguardfurniture.com. Coffee Table, Orange Folding Stool & Wood-Framed Occasional Chair: noirla.com. Rug: fibreworks.com. Fireplace Surround: Crema Marfil marble through atlasstonefabricatorsinc.com. Screen: arteriorshome.com. Fixture over Sitting Area: visualcomfort.com. Console: fourhands.com. Candlesticks: selamatdesigns.com. Mirror over Console: madegoods.com. Table Lamp: roostco.com. Wingchair: sherrillfurniure.com.
DINING ROOM Table and Bench: fourhands.com. Woven Chairs and Leather Host Chairs: palecek.com. Rug: Custom. Chandeliers & Sconces: visualcomfort.com.
KITCHEN Cabinetry Color: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray. Stools: arteriorshome.com. Woven Chairs: palecek.com. Breakfast Table: fourhands.com. Pendants over Table: hudsonvalleylighting.com. Pillows on Banquette: Custom.
MASTER BEDROOM Bedstead Chair & Ottoman: sherrillfurniture.com. Bedding: legacylinens.com. Pillows: Custom. Bench & Fabric: noirla.com. Floor Lamp: visualcomfort.com. Bedside Lamp: Kelly Wearsler for visualcomfort.com. Rug: kravet.com.
BLUE ROOM Daybed: ballarddesigns.com. Bedding & Pillows: Custom. Bedside Table: noirla.com. Bedside Wall Lamp: visualcomfort.com
A Maryland-based business consultant who had always wanted to live in a home with flowing, clean-lined spaces recently convinced his wife to go modern, too. “We’d never experienced an open plan and were excited about creating one,” he reflects. The couple considered ways to transform their center-hall colonial in Bethesda’s Sumner neighborhood before they moved on and purchased an old farmhouse on a hilltop in nearby Mohican Hills.
“After buying the property, we thought about doing a juxtaposition of a new design with the old house,” explains the wife, a stay-at-home mom, and former museum curator. “But there were major structural issues with the existing house, so we decided to demolish it and start from scratch.”
The homeowners then embarked on a three-year journey to realize their dream of open-plan living with the help of DC architect Robert Gurney, who is known for his rigorous contemporary designs. “Bob is willing to be bold but not extravagant,” says the husband. “He eliminates visual noise in his houses and understands the value of minimalism and simple lines.”
Gurney sited the linear house on the ridge of the sloping, one-and-a-half-acre site and organized its intersecting volumes to accommodate the couple, their three teenage daughters and visiting parents. “The girls’ bedrooms and the guest suite are separated from the living spaces,” he says. “This division makes a lot of sense for the way the family lives.”
Contrasting materials distinguish the two wings and visually break up the length of the building on the site. The front living pavilion is mostly sheathed in heat-treated poplar siding, while the rear bedrooms are finished in charcoal-gray stucco. The two sides connect via a light-filled, two-story stair hall just inside the front door.
In winter when the trees are bare, the owners can see the Potomac River from the main living area and master bedroom. “I tried to orient these spaces to capture the water views and retain as much flat space on the site as possible,” says Gurney. To one side of the house, a generous, level lawn bordered by a retaining wall provides a grassy stage for outdoor dining, volleyball and, in the future, a possible swimming pool.
Within the block of living spaces, the kitchen, dining and sitting areas are open and interconnected. The main living area focuses on a fireplace within a two-story space offering views of the lawn and surrounding forest. “We call it the tree house,” says the wife, who points to the evergreens and colorful leaves visible through floor-to-ceiling glass.
“What’s so cool is that we are in a suburb close to DC, but it feels like we are in the country,” says the husband.
To reinforce that impression, Annapolis landscape architect Kevin Campion designed “concentric rings and a layering of plantings that make the house feel like it is nested in nature,” he says. Deer-resistant perennials interspersed with drifts of grasses create a transitional meadow between the clearing around the house and mature trees surrounding the property.
Montgomery County’s strict environmental regulations led Campion to plant trees, including beech, dogwood and river birch, to replace those felled to make way for the house. Two specially designed gardens established at the front and back of the property manage the flow of rainwater on site. “Rather than have stormwater wash down the site and erode the hill, we worked with engineers to create gardens layered with sand, soil, stones, and plantings that allow the land to absorb as much water as possible,” explains Campion.
To furnish the interiors, the homeowners worked with designer Therese Baron Gurney, choosing pieces in harmony with the style and proportions of the house. “I worked to respect the architecture but made sure to accommodate all the people using the house, from kids to grandparents,” says Baron Gurney, who is married to the architect but runs her own DC practice. “All the fabrics are washable and durable, and the height of the seating is comfortable. I designed the living-area coffee table so you can put your feet on it.”
She also ensured functional adaptability in some of the rooms. A Murphy bed allows the office to double as a guest room. With its swivel chairs and tables, the mezzanine—located above the dining area—can be used as a TV lounge or workplace. Behind the kitchen, a space fitted with built-in shelving and a gas fireplace serves as an intimate reading nook or a conversational sitting area and entertaining space.
On the second floor, each of the kids’ bedrooms is paired with a bathroom. The master suite incorporates a fireplace and opens to a porch in the treetops.
Every bit of the décor is judiciously placed and kept to a minimum to maintain an uncluttered look that allows the architecture to remain center stage. “The house is so beautiful,” says the husband. “We think of it as the art.”
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Sarah Mailhot, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC. Builder: Steve McCaughan, Commonwealth Building and Design, Clifton, Virginia. Landscape Architect: Kevin Campion, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.
RESOURCES
EXTERIOR Windows: westernwindowsystems.com. Paneling: Fiber Cement Board (cembrit.us) over open rainscreen system. Wood Siding: Thermally modified poplar. Stucco & Chimney: Integrated-color cementitious stucco. Wood-Burning Fire Element: heatilator.com.
ENTRY Stairwell: Custom by the builder. Bench: gordoninternational.com. Recessed Lights: Lightolier (lbclighting.com). Suspension Lights: bega-us.com, deltalight.com, zaneen.com, moooi.com. Pendant: steng.de. Round Rug: filzfelt.com.
FAMILY ROOM Sectional: dellarobbiausa.com. Coffee Table: Custom through alleghenywoodworksllc.com. Fireplace Wall: cembrit.us.
KITCHEN Cabinetry: Custom ebony and maple. Countertops: White Zeus Extreme Silestone. Hood: thermador.com. Cooktop: mieleusa.com. Bar Stools: dauphin.de. Banquette: arco.nl. Banquette Fabric: deploeg.com. Table. prismatique.com. Chairs: kartell.com.
LIBRARY AREA Shelving: Custom maple, ebony, and walnut. Barcelona Chairs & Glass-Topped Coffee Table: gordoninternational.com. Fireplace: sparkfires.com. Painting over Fireplace: Owners’ collection.
LOFT Chairs: gordoninternational.com. Footstools: fatboyusa.com. Rug: Custom through hiberniamillswoolcarpets.com.
DINING AREA Dining Table: andreuworld.com. Chairs: gordoninternational.com.
MASTER BEDROOM Bed: dellarobbiausa.com. Bedding: aerostudios.com. Fireplace: sparkfires.com. Chair: andreuworld.com. Ceiling Fan: modernfan.com
Watching a new house go up in the family-friendly neighborhood they had been eying for a year, a couple with two children took note. Once the home’s wood framing was in place, they realized that its generous scale and open spaces matched the layout they had been searching for. And they welcomed the chance to begin again with a fresh style of living ideal for their growing family.
“It was amazing to have a blank slate to start with,” says Amy Sherman, who with her husband, Stuart Sherman, CEO of the digital marketing firm SM Marketing International, purchased the house two years ago in the Luxmanor section of North Bethesda. “We wanted a modern feel, and to push that further with a casual California vibe. Nothing too formal,“ says Amy, a marketing executive at Marriott International.
Moving from a home with tighter quarters, the couple happily anticipated the easy flow from room to room and the panoramic outdoor views. They imagined furnishing the house in a way that would treat the core living areas as a single space, serenely unified throughout. “We wanted it to be clean and crisp, but warm, inviting and cozy too,” Amy explains.
To realize their goal, they turned to interior designer Zoe Feldman Jantzen, with whom they had worked in the past and who shared their vision. Having grown up in a Mid-Century Modern house on Florida’s west coast—and worked with Alexa Hampton, one of Manhattan’s premier tradition-based designers—Jantzen has an outlook rooted at the crossroads of comfortable classic and modern design.
When she arrived, the house was still under construction. Custom builder Jeffco Development and the owners had already selected many finishes—in the kitchen, on the wood-paneled and beamed ceilings, and throughout—so Jantzen nimbly extended that base of neutral colors and natural materials. Meanwhile, the Shermans decided to reproduce her designs for the office and master bedroom in their former home “down to the grass-cloth-accent wall in the master bedroom,” says the designer. Despite duplicating the look in those rooms, almost everything else in the house is new. “It was an incredibly clean palette,” she notes, “a beautiful canvas to start with.”
Starting over can be exciting. Still, furnishing a home on the scale of 7,900 square feet inspired mixed feelings for Jantzen. “When I’ve worked on smaller residences in Manhattan and DC, it’s easy to make them feel warm and finished,” she says, “In a larger home, there’s more to fill in and more of a challenge to keep it feeling collected and cozy.”
To create a sense of warmth, Jantzen introduced organic materials with a range of woods and metals in furniture and lighting. Varied fabric textures help too, from nubby bouclé and linens to smooth leather and silks. In a household with eight- and 10-year-old boys, as well as a pet Maltipoo, the designer took the sensible step of protecting the light fabrics. “We used Sunbrella and other performance fabrics that can take a beating but don’t look like low-maintenance materials,” she says.
As a crisp backdrop to the largely white interiors requested by the owners, interior window and door trim was painted black. “We wanted to make the frames look like black steel, which I think is pretty against the white,” says Jantzen. That graphic contrast outlines panels by Jeld-Wen that fold back and completely open the living room to the enclosed sun porch.
Touches of pattern and color surface in art and decorative objects, including books. Beside a bookcase in the main living area, paired side chairs stand out with their intense apple-green mohair seats. Hanging on an opposite wall, a tall artwork panel incorporates dried moss in a flowing composition. “It appears as a vertical garden tying into the modern, organic space,” notes the designer, adding, “Especially in a house like this that’s clean and light with very white walls, it’s really important to add interest with art.”
Owner Stuart Sherman enjoys living with that art. Several pieces that he found are now displayed in his handsome home office next to the front door. One raw, abstract painting by New York artist Paul Gerben anchors the wall behind a modern Chesterfield sofa covered in butterscotch velvet, and a sparkling nickel-and-glass coffee table—a classic mix of design elements with verve.
Another brilliantly hued work by the same artist lights up a long wall in the cocoon-like butler’s pantry. Jantzen matched its deep navy walls to the color of the existing cabinets, then paneled the bar’s backsplash in coordinated, asymmetrical tile. “This is one of my favorite spaces; it’s moodier, with a ’70s influence,” she says.
The adjacent dining room in smoky gray is enriched by floor-length, forest green-silk drapes. Its vintage table sat for 40 years in the dining room of Stuart’s parents, before it turned out to be the perfect size and style for its new setting. “We had looked at this table forever and suddenly saw it in a new light,” recalls Amy.
Since moving in, the family congregates in that room for Thanksgiving dinner. And they gather every Friday on black-leather armchairs for “movie night” in the tiered lower-level theater room. Another favorite spot is the sun porch. Amy describes the family’s all-season enjoyment of that space: “In spring and fall, we open the windows and love the fresh air and feeling of nature all around,” she observes. “When the snow falls, it’s beautiful, especially with a fire in the fireplace. It’s a very relaxing, super-cozy environment.”
Architecture: Doug Roberts, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Zoe Feldman Jantzen, Zoe Feldman Design, Inc., Washington, DC. Builder: Jeffco Development, Rockville, Maryland.
RESOURCES
ENTRY Console: noirfurniturela.com. Chandelier: circalighting.com. Art over Console: naturalcuriosities.com. Rug: kravet.com.
DINING ROOM Chandelier & dining chairs: rh.com. Drapery Fabric: hollyhunt.com. Drapery Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Sideboard: mrbrownhome.com. Rug: centuryfurniture.com. Dining Table: Vintage.
LIVING ROOM Sectional & Fabric: rh.com. Throw Pillows: americaneyewdc.net. Coffee Table: wisteria.com. Console: bakerfurniture.com. Etagére: jaysonhome.com. Chairs with Green Fabric Seats: olystudio.com. Eames Chair, Ottoman & Fabric: hermanmiller.com
SUNROOM Sofa & Fabric: rh.com. Round Table, Chairs & White Chair with Wood Frame: gloster.com
KITCHEN Counter Stools: cb2.com. Breakfast Table, Chairs & Light Fixture: westelm.com.
BUTLER'S PANTRY Wall Tile behind Bar: waterworks.com. Countertop: White Quartz.
OFFICE Desk, Coffee Table & Art above Sofa: Owners’ collection. Desk Lamp: tomdixon.net. Sofa: leeindustries.com. Fabric: scalamandre.com. Leather Sling Chair: cb2.com. Ceiling Treatment: thibautdesign.com. Rug: dashandalbert.com.
BEDROOM Wall Treatment: thibautdesign.com. Bedstead: Owners’ collection. Bench: olystudio.com. Nightstands: redfordhouse.com. Side Table: globalviews.com. Global Views. Rug: Vintage.
The political intrigue that fuels Netflix’s “House of Cards” bears an uncanny resemblance to today’s reality in Washington. “People must think the writers have a crystal ball. Since we film well in advance, it’s amazing how on point they’ve been throughout the seasons,” says the show’s set decorator, Tiffany Zappulla.
Also on point: the sets Zappulla and her team craft for this Emmy Award-winning drama.
On a recent tour sponsored by the Washington chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Zappulla offered a behind-the-scenes look at how the series’ dystopian world takes shape. When they’re not shooting on location around Baltimore, the 200-plus cast and crew members work 12- to 14-hour days on production and filming in cavernous warehouses north of the city. In the set decoration warehouse, antiques, lamps, mirrors, and props cram floor-to-ceiling shelves. Upholsterers, carpenters and seamstresses fashion sofas, chairs and draperies in open work areas. Reproductions of original artwork, hand-painted by scenic artists, hang in waiting for their moment on screen.
Behind a bare dividing wall, a labyrinth of spaces including the Situation Room, the Press Briefing Room, the Roosevelt Room and the Oval Office were primed for Season Six, which would begin filming in October.
“House of Cards” revolves around the roguery of President Francis Underwood and First Lady Claire Underwood (Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright), both driven to dominate Washington at any cost. They hide their scandalous ways behind a polished veneer of respectability—and tastefully conservative interiors that convey both power and restraint. “By the time Francis and Claire got to the White House, they were both pretty nefarious,” says Zappulla. "It was about de-saturating the colors and showing their dark sides.”
She and her staff base their work on painstaking online research and intelligence gathered on tours of the actual White House. “We are slaves to detail and meticulous about keeping the proportions correct,” says Zappulla, who has also designed sets for HBO’s “Veep.”
After “dressing” space, she photographs it to assess how well it reflects her subjects. “The sets are a very important supporting actor,” she explains. “You can create a beautiful space, but if it doesn’t make sense for the character, you’ve missed the target.
“There’s never anything in these rooms that are filler,” Zappulla adds. “It’s all very thought-out.” For instance, in a nod to Francis Underwood’s Southern heritage and affinity for the Civil War, his Oval Office displays miniature cannons, pineapple motifs and tobacco jars from his home state of South Carolina.
Channeling Claire’s character, Zappulla landed on birds, which grace the First Lady’s boudoir. “Birds look so delicate,” she reasons, “but they can fly. That’s Claire.”
A vast amount of what’s seen on set is produced by the show’s own artisans. Their creations range from upholstered sofas and 24-foot-long conference tables to sculpted busts, acanthus leaf and rosette moldings, faux-marble floors and “brass” torchieres. There’s even a working cooktop in the White House kitchen fabricated for a scene that called for Claire to fry an egg in full camera view.
What they can’t make Zappulla purchases on frequent shopping sprees around DC and Baltimore. “We take a lot of pride in this being a Maryland-based show and do as much as we can to purchase here,” says the Baltimore native. “When we’re filming, I inject close to $60,000 into the Maryland economy every 10 days.”
The decreased demand for antiques, also known as “brown furniture,” has been a plus for the show. “We’re so fortunate to be in this area and have benefitted quite a bit from that shift in design taste,” Zappulla says. Her go-to emporiums include Cornerstone and Clearing House, Ltd., near Baltimore and Goldsborough Glynn in Kensington.
Given the sinister plot twists on “House of Cards,” the designer benefits from another decorating trend: the rise of all things gray. “That palette is so popular now,” says Zappulla. “I have beautiful options at my disposal.”
She also frequents the Washington Design Center, where she recently splurged on Scalamandré fabric for a couple of entry-hall chairs. “The [real] White House is full of Scalamandré fabric, but my budget is not full of Scalamandré,” she laments. “But I’m a purist and had to be able to say we have Scalamandré in our White House too.”
Zappulla acknowledges that her department is one of many focused on nailing every “House of Cards” scene. “It takes the right lighting, the cameraman, everyone working in unison, to create what you see on TV and hopefully what you enjoy.”
Ultimately, the goal is to blur the lines between truth and fiction. “We want the audience to believe the cast is sitting on Air Force One or in the Oval Office,” Zappulla says. “If it starts to look like a set, then we haven’t done our job.”
Built in the 1930s, a modest A-frame house in Arlington was just the right size for Darren Robbins, a principal at a tech firm, who moved into the two-bedroom, one-bath residence in 2011 with two of his children and a dog ( they have always kept their children & dog under rules, boundaries & limitation of the house). After he and wife Halee married in 2014, however, it quickly became clear that the 1,500-square-foot house couldn’t accommodate a larger family. There was so little storage space that Halee had to share a closet with the kids, and only a couple of people could fit into the cramped kitchen at once.
“The original house was tiny…you walked in the front door and were practically at the back door,” said Michael Winn of Winn Design+Build, whose firm was eventually hired to renovate and enlarge the abode. “For their growing family, it wasn’t going to get them there.”
The Robbinses had considered buying another house in their Arlington neighborhood but ultimately decided to embark on a major renovation that would more than double the size of their existing home and fulfill the key items on their wish list: a generous kitchen, four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a walk-out basement and a new garage. The project took on more urgency when Halee discovered she was expecting their first child.
“Moving [the kids] into separate rooms was imperative,” observes Darren. “They get along much better now. And with an almost-teenage girl and a teenage boy, the new bathroom space has definitely helped to keep the peace.”
Winn’s team faced challenges in turning the small, dark house into an open, updated home. The large addition had to be carefully scaled so as not to overwhelm the existing house and neighboring homes. “There are some builders out there who will put up as large a home on the lot as they can. We try to be mindful of the neighborhood and the massing when we build,” Winn says. Furthermore, the lot was narrow and deep, with a significant change in grade from the front to the back.
The solution was to place the bulk of the three-story addition at the back of the house. Winn architect Amy Finch turned the sloped site to advantage by incorporating an above-ground basement into the design; this enabled her to enlarge the existing second floor while maintaining the home’s original roof profile. To further minimize its street presence, the two-story garage addition was set slightly back.
Finch freshened the exterior by covering its Tudor-style detailing with shingles and cladding the new construction in clapboard siding. Complementary shades of blue paint and crisp, white trim blend the original brick façade with the addition.
Inside, a reconfigured floor plan improved the flow between rooms. From the first-floor entry, a hallway leads to the back of the house through the former kitchen, providing sight lines and sense of place. The dining room now occupies the original living room, which has been relocated to the addition in the back, and a new powder room lies off the hallway. A spacious kitchen spills into the living-room addition, creating an open-plan space that easily accommodates family and friends. “We’re in the kitchen and living room most of the time,” Halee notes. “Even when we have guests, we tend to just stay here.”
Interior designer Jeanne Griffin made the inside spaces feel cohesive by painting the main rooms in shades of a dove, blue and gray, and staining the oak floors throughout a rich custom brown. “Part of the design direction came from the clients’ love of the beach, water, and references to calm,” Griffin explains.
Griffin was originally hired to consult on interior finishes, but the Robbinses were so happy with the results that they hired her to furnish the home too. The rooms, built around large, neutral furnishings, receive pops of color through accessories and artwork. “It’s casual enough for a family but sophisticated enough for entertaining,” Griffin says.
In the dining room, a contemporary chandelier hangs above a rustic wood table. The clean-lined, eat-in kitchen combines cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. The shiny glass kitchen backsplash tile complements the matte finish on the honed-ceramic-tile fireplace surround in the adjoining living room.
On the second floor, the existing layout was reconfigured to encompass a third bedroom and three baths. A large bath over the garage addition is distinguished by a cathedral ceiling. A hallway now leads to the master suite, housed in the addition; it encompasses a generous walk-in closet and a full bath embellished with an intricate mosaic-tile pattern in the shower enclosure.
Downstairs, a recreation room leads to a full bath, a gym and a kitchenette with a wet bar—where root beer was on tap for a recent kids’ party. The basement space opens to the backyard, where a swimming pool is next on the list of requirements for this growing family.
The Robbins are happy in their renovated abode, which won a Contractor of the Year award in 2016. Since the renovation, the family also welcomed one more addition to their home when Halee and Darren’s second baby was born.
DRAWING BOARD with Michael Winn
How do you modernize a traditional exterior so it still fits its neighborhood?
I retain the original character by paying attention to the existing form, scale, and exterior finishes.
How do you help clients prioritize their wish lists?
We ask them to compile wish lists and compare. We organize the agreed-on items into buckets: “must have,” “nice to have” and “if money grew on trees.” We also offer professional guidance (ROI considerations, feasibility, etc.) and personal opinions.
What tricks do you use to gain storage space during a remodel?
We identify underutilized spaces (e.g. under a stairway or in a knee-wall) and design things to perform more than one function, like hidden drawers in stair risers. In an addition, trusses can also provide space.
What is your material-selection process?
We ask clients to share images they like on Houzz or Pinterest, then complete a questionnaire. We interview them, then produce design boards based on their preferences and budget, or schedule shopping trips to local showrooms.
Renovation Architecture: Amy Finch, AIA; Kitchen & Bath Design: Jennifer Hall; Contracting: Michael Winn, Winn Design+Build, Falls Church, Virginia. Interior Design: Jeanne Griffin, Jeanne Griffin Interior Design Studio, Alexandria, Virginia.
A couple moving from a bungalow to a modern abode in Northwest DC brought their traditional furnishings with them—along with some trepidation about how to navigate their new environment. “They told me they were almost intimidated by how modern and open their new house was,” recounts interior designer Kate Ballou, who guided their transition from cottage style interiors to contemporary. “It wasn’t something they were familiar with. They loved the style but wanted it to still feel cozy.”
Saltbox Architecture | Construction came on board to renovate the double-height main floor of the 1979 house. The kitchen was redesigned and the wall separating it from the family room removed. The family-room ceiling was lowered to make space feel more intimate. Meanwhile, Ballou helped her clients select modern furnishings with an emphasis on natural materials like stone and wood.
An existing walnut console and sideboard provided the jumping off point for modern pieces, including iconic mid-century classics purchased through Furniture from Scandinavia, where Ballou works part-time. A palette of gray, blue and purple was inspired by vintage posters collected by the husband, a speechwriter, and evocative black-and-white images photographed by the wife. The finished house “feels spare and modern without being sterile,” Ballou says. “We were able to give them something they are happy with.”
What’s unique about the new kitchen?
The clients love walnut, so Touchstone Remodelers put in gorgeous custom-walnut cabinetry. We chose the locations for the walnut and white upper cabinets carefully and used dark-gray porcelain tile for the kitchen floor. A row of cabinets topped with honed granite separates the kitchen area from the family room.
What was your rationale for furniture selection?
My clients were ready to invest in really good furniture that they will keep forever. I introduced them to modern Danish design. I’m a big believer in using iconic pieces where you can. So to make those purchases possible, we went with other mid-priced items like a Room & Board sectional and ottoman in the family room, then paired them with an original Oda Chair. Most of the carpet is wool broadloom that’s been bound—it’s durable, feels good to the touch and is budget-friendly so we could put more into the beautiful, sculptural pieces they both fell in love with.
How did you create warmth in a modern context?
Furniture with circles and curves, high-quality, natural materials and fabrics that have that tactile, luxurious feel. The owners gravitated towards grays, so I tried to choose gray upholstery with some brown in it when I could so it would feel less cold. And they love walnut, which has such warmth to it. Most of the wood pieces are made of walnut.
What challenges did the open plan present?
The living room was defined by an existing lowered ceiling, but at one end there’s a space with a double-height ceiling that leads out to a porch. The clients were stumped by it. They said, “It feels like a gallery to us; we don’t want to necessarily fill it with furniture.” We decided to make it an indoor-outdoor area, to transition outside. Plants sit on loose beds of stones, broken up by a porcelain-tile pathway to the porch. It works great.
How did you make your fabric selections?
The owners loved the process of picking out fabrics. They wanted everything very monochromatic, so we looked for variations and textures. For example, they have an Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair in the living room, and we chose a warm, gray-brown fabric for it. A purple window seat cushion on the far wall provides a little fun back there.
How did you liven up the monochromatic look?
Texture. That’s my big thing. For instance, in the master bedroom, I chose a Tai Ping custom carpet that is carefully custom-cut for the odd shape of the room. It’s a gorgeous, wool-and-silk blend in slate blue with a soft sheen. It’s subtle but eye-catching.
Talk about the furniture arrangement in the living room.
When I worked for [architect] Hugh Newell Jacobsen, I learned how to create formal seating arrangements, where sofas line up perfectly to give everyone the same distance to the coffee table. In this case, I lined up the sofas with a solid-walnut coffee table where one table can be pushed underneath the other or both can be pulled out. The concept was to be a little flexible but still adhere to the rules.
Advice for clients getting started?
Focus on the big picture first and on how you want to invest in your furniture.
How do you blend price points?
I mix investment pieces with high-quality mid- and low-range furniture. I recently combined a cb2 credenza for $500 with an Egg Chair for $8,000.
Besides the name, why buy original?
Imitations don’t last as long or feel the same. Fritz Hansen has been manufacturing for 80 years; they have their methods and proportions. Everything is designed for the body and for the eye. It makes a huge difference.
Why is accessorizing important?
It provides the finishing layer that makes a project feel lived in and gives it character and personality.
What is your personal style?
I like to mix mid-century and newer designs that reinterpret that era; also vintage pieces with modern upholstery. They make a home feel collected over time, a goal of many designers.
Renovation Design: Alan Field, ASID, NCIDQ, Saltbox Architecture | Construction, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Kate Ballou, Hendrick Interiors, Washington, DC. Builder: Ben Srigley, Touchstone Remodelers LLC, Bethesda, Maryland.
Members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Washington Metro Chapter gathered at the Lutron Experience Center in Washington, DC, on September 26 for their annual awards celebration. Judges from ASID chapters in Arkansas, Louisiana and New Hampshire reviewed the entries for this year’s competition, entitled “2017 Design Transforms Lives Competition.” For the first time, the award categories combined both commercial and residential design. Photos of the winning projects are shown above.
Artist Linling Lu, who left China in 2006 to study painting at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, now lives and works in a townhouse a short walk from MICA. On a balmy fall morning, she cheerfully ushered a visitor into her studio. There, the foundations of her pulsating paintings and other colorful arts are arrayed in orderly rows. Small containers hold color samples from recent paintings; rice-paper notebooks record hues applied in earlier paintings; and fragments from vintage Chinese embroideries lie in a tidy queue ready for use in the composite pieces she calls “fabric paintings.” On the floor, sculptures-in-progress are arranged according to the number of wooden blocks in each. “Working with different materials keeps me grounded, aware of where I am and where I came from,” notes Lu. The artist answered questions about her work, on exhibit through December 16 at Hemphill Fine Arts (hemphillfinearts.com) in Washington.
Your painting appears straightforward—concentric circles of color radiating from a bull’s-eye. But it’s not so simple. Please explain.
Colors are instruments with their own sounds. When I assemble colors into a complex circular instrument, they choose their vibration frequency and make outstanding symphony.
What compels you about the circle?
The circle is a symbol of something complete and perfect, balanced and everlasting. Every ring is an endless path. Following each path with layers of paint is an everyday practice of listening to intuitive voices located in the inner center.
One piece in the gallery exhibition combines a painting and an arrangement of smaller wooden blocks. What is the place of sculpture in your work?
Each piece in the installation is independent. They gather just for this moment.
What’s involved when you sit down to start a painting?
I make color and composition studies before starting. Most of the time I stretch my own canvases, prime and sand them. It takes a few simple tools and steps: a compass to draw, several brushes for applying prepared paints and days of free-hand painting and color adjustments. It’s a very systematic process.
Your vibrant pieces have been linked to the Washington Color School movement of the 1950s and ‘60s, known for large color fields of paint. Do you see your art as descended from that movement?
I came with a different background and became aware of the Washington Color School movement and color-field painting during my five years at MICA, where I earned a master’s in fine art. These inspirations together with roots from another culture have developed my work as a hybrid of different cultures and art traditions.
The hand of the artist and brushwork—characteristic of Chinese calligraphy and landscape painting—are absent from your work. Why? My strong interests in geometry, math and order started when I was a child. With professional training in landscape architecture at Beijing Forestry University, I learned techniques to draw complicated things in a mathematical way. I like viewers to see themselves in a painting before seeing me.
Did growing up in southwest China’s rural Guizhou province influence your art?
I grew up in a mountainous city where industrial factories were developing, and more than 30 tribal minorities were scattered. I have beautiful memories of the colors of the mountains, rivers, sky, people’s laughter and colorful clothing.
How do public and private commissions fit into your work?
I see commissions as stages for groups of individual paintings to gather and interact in a theatrical setting. Some public collections—including one at CityCenterDC that contains my largest circle (108 inches in diameter) and one at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing—have given me tremendous freedom to create different characters and relations.
Your name sounds poetic, balanced and alliterative—all in three syllables. Does it have special meaning in Chinese? How has it affected your direction in art or in life?
Lin is a character representing Qi Lin, a magical animal. It brings luck and good energy to places it travels. Ling means flying above the clouds. Lu is an ancient Chinese family name; its character combines two mouths and has a relation to music and instruments. All together, it is a meaningful and beautiful name to me, and it has taught me many wonderful things. It suggests to me to be curious and imaginative, and it links my experiences to music. I was trained as a classical pianist since age four, and I find that music and painting are inseparable and resonate to each other. The combination of these three characters is unique. I googled it and so far haven’t found a second person using this Chinese name. It sets a high standard for me to follow—work hard, be respectful and bring good things to the world.
With its emphasis on the nuclear family, the U.S. housing market falls short meeting the needs of today’s rising populations who are living with roommates or extended family members or aging in place. “Making Room: Housing for a Changing America,” an exhibit at the National Building Museum, explores alternatives to conventional housing models. For example, on view is a 1,000-square-foot “home” by Italian architect Pierluigi Colombo that contains movable walls and multi-functional furnishings from Resource Furniture.
The exhibit also spotlights successful housing paradigms from around the globe, including WeLive micro-apartments in Crystal City, complete with communal kitchens, and Arizona’s Las Abuelitas rental units, where patios and play spaces were designed for grandparents sharing childcare duties. On view from November 18 to September 16, 2018. nbm.org
